Apparatus for making pledgets



Oct. 10, 1967 w. H. BURGER APPARATUS FOR MAKING PLEDGETS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 5, 1964 1967 w. H. BURGER APPARATUS FOR MAKING PLEDGETS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 5, 1964 Oct. 10, 1967 w. H. BURGER 3,345,599

APPARATUS FOR MAKING PLEDGETS Filed Sept. 5, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 gills-4 I24 llG lN ARD 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 x mi mi 1967 w. H. BURGER APPARATUS FOR MAKING PLEDGETS Filed Sept. 5, 1964 Oct. 10, 1967 w. H. BURGER APPARATUS FOR MAKING PLEDGETS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept.

United States Patent 3,345,699 APPARATUS FOR MAKING PLEDGETS William H. Burger, Neenah, Wis., assignor to Kimberly- Clark Corporation, Neenah, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 3, 1964, Ser. No. 394,247 3 Claims. (Cl. 19-145) My invention relates to a method and apparatus for producing pledgets and more particularly those which are adapted for catamenial use in conjunction with conventional sanitary napkins, being simply laid for usage longitudinally on the active sides of the sanitary napkins. More particularly, the invention relates to such a pledget which includes an absorbent body enclosed in a knitted jacket of thread or yarn.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved apparatus and method for making such a pledget, the absorbent body of which is formed by a plurality of cotton sliver segments laid alongside of each other, the pledget preferably having a thickness of two sliver segments and having three of the segments laid side to side in each of two layers.

The invention consists of the novel constructions, arrangements, devices and methods to be hereinafter described and claimed for carrying out the above stated objects, and such other objects, as will be apparent from the following description of a preferred form of machine embodying the principles of the invention, illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the upstream portion of a machine for making pledgets with knitted jackets, the machine being .made and operating according to the teachings of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the downstream portion of the machine;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a Geneva mechanism incorporated in the machine;

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of a pervious jacket knitting head incorporated in the machine and taken substantially from line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of a portion of the machine located just downstream of the knitting head illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the downstream terminal portion of the machine;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary side elevational view of one of the knitting needles of the knitting head as it is shown particularly in FIG. 5;

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of the continuous length of the sliver and knitted sheath produced by the machine prior to cutting into individual pledgets;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken on line 11-11 of FIG. 10; and,

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a portion of the continuous length of sliver segments and knitted sheath produced by the machine prior to cutting into individual pledgets.

Like characters of reference designate like parts in the several views.

Referring now to the drawings, the illustrated pledget making machine comprises, in general, a pair of knitting heads A and B, a pair of sliver feed devices C and D for feeding sliver to the knitting heads, a pair of cutters E and F for cutting the slivers into segments, a knitting pledget conveyor G, an adhesive applying mechanism H and a cutter device I for cutting the knitted pledgets apart. In the illustrated form of the machine, each of the knitting heads A and B have groups of six cotton slivers "ice passing through them. Cotton slivers 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25 pass through the knitting head A; and cotton slivers 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31 pass through the knitting head B. Each of the slivers is drawn from an open upper ended cylindrical drum, the slivers 24 and 25 being drawn respectively from the drums a and band the slivers 36 and 31 being respectively drawn from the drums c and d, for example. Each of the slivers is coiled into its respective drum so that it may freely be withdrawn through the open upper end of the drum.

The sliver feeding devices C and D are substantiall identical, although parts of them are reversed with respect to each other. The sliver feeding device C comprises a plate 32 fixed with respect to a machine frame 33. Rolls 34, ,35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48 and 49 are rotatably disposed on the plate 32 with horizontal axes. Endless flexible belts 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56 and 57 extend over these rolls, the belt being disposed over the rolls 34 and 35; the belt 51 being disposed over the rolls 36 and 37; the belt 52 being disposed over the rolls 38 and 39; the belt 53 being disposed over the rolls 40 and 41; the belt 54 being disposed over the rolls 42 and 43; the belt being disposed over the rolls 44 and 45; the belt 56 being disposed over the rolls 46 and 47; and the belt 57 being disposed over the rolls 48 and 49. The slivers pass between the belts 50 and 51, the belts 52 and 53, the belts 54 and 55, and the belts 56 and 57, as will be hereinafter more fully described. Vertically disposed sliver guide rolls 58, 59, 60 and 61 are also fixed on their axes with respect to the plate 32, and the plate 32 also carries guide rolls 62 and 63 for the slivers which are rotatably disposed on horizontal axes.

The rolls 34 to 49, together with the belts 50' to 57, are driven so as to propel the slivers 2b to 25 toward the knitting head A, and a motor 64 is operatively connected to these rolls for this purpose. The motor 64 is connected to drive a countershaft 65 by means of pulleys 66 and 67 and a belt 68 extending about the pulleys. The shaft 65 is rotatably mounted with respect to the frame 33 by any suitable bearings. The shafts 65 extends into a speed reduction unit 69, and the reduction unit 69 is drivingly connected to various of the rolls 34 to 49 as will now be made clear.

The sliver feeding device D is substantially the same as the device C, as previously mentioned, except that various parts are reversed. In particular, there are sliver propelling belts on the side of the plate 32a that is hidden as the machine is illustrated in FIG. 1, which belts correspond with the belts50 to 57 and are supported by rolls corresponding to the rolls 34 to 49. These rolls on the plate 32a are driven from a reduction unit 69a corresponding to the unit 69, and the unit 6911 is driven in the same manner from a motor as described in connection with the unit 69. Sprockets 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76 and 77 are rotatably disposed on the inner face of the plate 32a of the sliver feeding device D, and these sprockets are fixed with respect to the rolls on the hidden side of the plate 32a that correspond with the rolls 34, 37, 38, 40, 43, 45, 46 and 48, respectively.

A sprocket 78 is fixed on the driven shaft of the speed reduction unit 69a, and a pair of sprockets 79 and 80 are fixed with respect to each other and are rotatably disposed on a supporting arm 81x fixed with respect to the frame 33. An idler sprocket 82 is rotatably disposed on a fixed arm 81y, and another idler sprocket 83 is rotatably disposed on the plate 32a. An endless drive chain 84 extends around the sprockets 78, 82, 77, 76, 83, 70, 71 and 79, as illustrated in FIG. 1, for the purpose of driving the rolls on the hidden side of the plate 32a that correspond with the rolls 34, 37, 46 and 48 at a constant speed. The associated belts, as will be understood, also are driven at a 3 constant speed. The illustrated rolls 34, 37, 46 and 48 on the outer side of the plate 32 are driven in the same manner by the similar sprocket and chain mechanism disposed behind the plate 32 as the machine is illustrated in FIG. 1.

The rolls which are hidden behind the plate 32a and which correspond to the rolls 38, 40, 43 and 45 are intermittently driven from the reduction unit 690 by mechanism which will now be described. The intermittent drive mechanism comprises a shaft 85 having a sprocket 86 fixed thereon and a chain 87 which extends around the sprockets 86 and 80. The sprockets 79 and are fixed together; and, therefore, the shaft is driven from the reduction unit 69a. A Geneva mechanism (see FIG. 3) is driven from the shaft 85 and comprises a bar 88 fixed with respect to the shaft 85 and carrying two spaced pins 89. A plate 90 is also fixed on the shaft 85 and is provided with two cylindrical end faces 91. A driven element '92 is fixed on a driven shaft 93, and the element 92 is formed with four slots 94 and four cylindrical concave surfaces 95. The pins 89 are adapted to fit into the slots 94 and the cylindrical surfaces 91 are adapted to fit into the surfaces 95 for the purpose of driving the shaft 93 intermittently as will be hereinafter described in greater detail.

A sprocket 96 is fixed on the shaft 93, and a chain 97 extends over the sprocket 96 and also over the sprockets 72, 73, 74 and 75, as illustrated in FIG. 1, for driving the latter sprockets intermittently along with the shaft 93. Rolls corresponding to the rolls 38, 40, 43 and 45 on the hidden side of the plate 32a, together with the belts supported by these rolls, are thus driven intermittently; and the rolls 38, 40, 43 and 45 together with the belts 52, 53, 54 and 55 on the plate 32 are driven intermittently in the same manner by similar Geneva mechanism and sprocket and chain mechanism on the hidden side of the plate 32.

The cutter E comprises a pair of arms 98 and 99 swingably mounted about the shaft 65 on opposite sides of the reduction unit 69. A tubular member 100 connects the arms 98 and 99, and a shaft 101 is rotatably disposed within the arms 98 and 99 and tubular member 100. A pulley 102 is fixed on one end of the shaft 101, and a cutter disc 103 is fixed on the other end of the shaft 101. A pulley 104 is fixed on the end of the shaft 65 which passes through the reduction unit 69, and a belt 105 passes over the pulleys 102 and 104.

An output shaft 106 of the reduction unit 69 is connected with a miter gear unit 107 which has an output shaft 108. A cam 109 is fixed on the shaft 108, and a follower roller 110 disposed on an arm 111 is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the cam 109. The arm 111 is swingably mounted with respect to the frame 33, and the outer end of the arm 111 is connected by means of a link 112 with the arm 99. The outer surface of the cam 109 is so formed with respect to the center of the shaft 108 that the outer end of the arm 111 and, therefore, the arms 98 and 99 and the cutter disc 103, swing toward and away from the mounting plate 32 as the shaft 108 rotates. The cutter disc 103 is so located that it moves between the rolls 39 and 41 and the rolls 42 and 44 as the arms 98 :and 99 swing about the shaft 65.

The cutter F is substantially the same as the cutter E, except that it is reversed and moves toward and away from the mounting plate 32a. The cutter F comprises a cutter disc 103a, arms 98a and 99a, driving pulleys 102a and 104a and a belt 105a.

The knitting head A is of more or less conventional design. It includes a stationary tubular member 113 which carries a relatively thin walled tubular element 114 having longitudinal slots 115 provided in its outer surface. Needles 116 having hooks 116a on their ends and having outwardly extending intermediate portions 116b are disposed in equidistantly spaced ones of the slots 115. Each needle has a latch 117 swingably mounted on the needle to overlie the hook 1160 of the needle in one position of the latch (see FIG. 9). The portions 116b are disposed between cams 118 and 119 carried by a rotatable part 120 so that, as the part 120 is rotated, the needles move axially inwardly and outwardly with respect to the tubular part 114. The part 120 is rotatably driven by means of a belt 121 that extends about a pulley 122 fixed on the shaft 65 and about a pulley portion 123 on the part 120.

A pair of cones 124 and 125 of yarn or thread are carried by means of arms 126 and 127 fixed on the rotatable part 120. Thread is drawn from each of the cones 124 and 125 through thread guides 128, 129, 130 and 131 so that the thread passes on to the hooks 116a of the needles 116 in the positions of the needles in which they are thrust outwardly to their greatest extent with respect to the tubular part 114, so that each hook 116a hooks a thread and draws it inwardly. Each cone 124 and 125 is carried on an arbor 132 which is fixed on to one of the arms 126 and 127 and which is externally threaded for holding the cone in place. A protective cover 133 of clear plastic sheet material is preferably provided about the head A.

The knitting head B is substantially the same as the head A, except that it rotates in the opposite direction. As will hereinafter be described, both of the knitting heads produce a knitted thread jacket 134 enveloping segments of the slivers 20 to 25 and 26 to 31, so that the product proceeding from the knitting heads A and B is substantially as shown in FIGS. 10, 11 and 12, constituting a continuous length of jacket 134 surrounding segments of the slivers. This rope-like product from each of the heads A and B is drawn on to the conveyor G from the heads A and B.

The conveyor G comprises a pair of articulated chains 135 and 136 bridged by transverse links 137, each of which carries an outwardly extending plate portion 138 having notches 139 and 140 formed therein. The chains 135 and 136 pass over sprockets 141 and 142 which are respectively fixed on shafts 143 and 144. The shaft 143 is rotatably disposed in opposite plates 145 and 146, and the shaft 144 is rotatably disposed in opposite plates 147 and 148, the plates 145 to 148 being fixed to the frame 33. Idler sprockets 149 are rotatably carried by the frame 33; and the sprockets 141, 142 and 149 hold each of the chains 135 and 136 in looped form.

A drive connection is provided between the drive shaft 65 and the chains 135 and 136 for driving the latter. This drive connection comprises a reduction unit 150 driven by the shaft 65 and having an output sprocket 151. A sprocket 152 is fixed on the shaft 143, and idler sprockets 153 and 154 are rotatably carried by the plate 146. Shafts 155 and 156 extend through and are rotatably disposed with respect to the plates 145 and 146, and sprockets 157 and 158 are respectively fixed on the shafts 155 and 156. A drive chain 159 passes over the sprockets 151, 152, 153, 157, 158 and 154, as illustrated in FIG. 2, so as to drive the shaft 143 and thereby the sprockets 141 and the chains 135 and 136.

A pair of movable belts 160 and 161 (see FIG. 6) are disposed between the conveyor G and the knitting head A for receiving the continuous sausage of knitted cover and sliver segments. The belt 160 is disposed on rolls 162 and 163, and the belt 161 is disposed on rolls 164 and 165. A sprocket 166 is fixed with respect to the roll 164, and the sprocket 166 is part of the driving connection for the belt 161 fro-m the drive shaft 65. The remainder of the driving connection includes a sprocket 167 fixed on the shaft 143, idler sprockets 168 and 169 and a chain 170 extending over the sprockets 166, 167, 168 and 169. Belts similar to belts 160 and 161 may also be provided for the contrnuous length of sliver segments and knitted sheath proceeding from the head B and may be driven in the same manner from the shaft 65. The continuous length of sliver and sheath proceeds directly from the belts 160 and 161 to the notches 139 in the plate portions 138, these notches receiving the portions of the knitted sheath between the segments of slivers as illustrated in FIG. 2. The continuous length of sliver segments and sheath from the head B is directed to the notches 140 which engage the composite product in the same manner. Pulleys 171 and 172 are provided over which the continuous length of product may be passed from the'head B to the slots 140, as shown in FIG. 2.

The adhesive applying mechanism H comprises an elongated element 173 fixed on the shaft 156 and an elongated element 174 fixed on the shaft 155 (see FIGS. 2, 6 and 7). The element 173 is provided with ducts 175 and 176 extending outwardly through the element to inserts 177 and 178 of felt or a like yieldable, fluid permeable material which are carried in the ends-of the element 173. Anvils 179 and 180 are fixed on the ends of the element 174 as shown in FIG. 6. The elements 173 and 174 are driven in unison by means of the chain 159 passing over the sprockets 157 and 158, so that the felt inserts 177 and 178 contact the anvils 179 and 180, as will be hereinafter described in greater detail.

The shaft 156 is provided with a pair of ducts 181 and 182 extending through the shaft from its ends to the ducts 175 and 176. Liquid adhesive reservoirs 183 and 184 are mounted on a plate 185 which is fixed to the plates 145 and 146. The reservoir 184 is connected by means of a supply pipe 186 with the duct 181, and the reservoir 183 is connected by means of a supply pipe 187 with the duct 182.

The cutter device I comprises an elongated element 188 fixed on a shaft 189 and an elongated element 190 fixed on a shaft 191 with both of these shafts extending between and being rotatably disposed with respect to the plates 147 and 148. The elongated element 188 carries anvils 192 and 193 on its ends, and the elongated element 190 carries knives 194 and 195 on its ends. The shafts 189 and 191 are driven by means of a sprocket 196 which is fixed on the shaft 189 and a sprocket 197 which is fixed on the shaft 191. A sprocket 198 is fixed with respect to the shaft 144, and idler sprockets 199 and 200 are rotatably disposed on the plate 147. A drive chain 201 extends around the sprockets 196, 197, 198, 199 and 200, and the chain 201 thereby drives the shafts 189 and 191 and the elongated elements 188 and 190 from the shaft 144 which is driven by the chains 135 and 136.

In operation, continuous lengths of cotton slivers are drawn from the supply drums a, b, c, a, etc. The continuous slivers 20, 21 and 22 are drawn over the idler roll '62, and the slivers 23, 24 and 25 pass over the idler roll 63. This travel of the slivers 20 to 25 is due to the action of the belts 50 and 51 which are driven at a uniform speed. The belt 50 is driven from the roll 34, and the belt 51 is driven from the roll 37. As has been previously mentioned, the rolls 34 and 37 are driven continuously by means of a chain that corresponds with the chain 84 on the sliver feed device D which extends around the sprockets 78, 79, 71, 70, 83, 76, 77 and 82. The sprocket 78 is driven from the reduction unit 69a, and there is a corresponding reduction unit 69 for the sliver feed device C which is driven from the counter shaft 65 that in turn is driven from the motor 64. The slivers 20- to 25 are positioned with respect to each other by means of the rolls 62 and 63 so that the slivers 20, 21 and 22 are in a top layer and the slivers 23, 24 and 25 are in a lower layer, the slivers being positioned with respect to each other as illustrated in FIG. 11. It will be noted that the rolls 62 and 63 each has three grooves in its periphery for so positioning the six slivers with respect to each other. The slivers 20 to 25 are quite resilient and they accommodate themselves to such positioning even though they are approximately round in cross section.

The slivers 20 to 25 pass from the belts 50 and 51 to the belts 52 and 53, and they pass between the latter belts with the same relative positioning. The belts 52 and 53 are intermittently moved, being driven by means of the rollers 38 and 40 which in turn are driven by the sprockets corresponding to the sprockets 72 and 73 in the sliver feed device D. The sprockets 72 and 73 are driven from a chain 97 that passes over these sprockets; and, as has been previously described, this chain passes also over the sprockets 74, 75 and 96. The chain 97 is given an intermittent movement by means of the Geneva mechanism illustrated in FIG. 3.

The sprocket 86 of the Geneva mechanism is driven at a constant speed by means of the chain 87 which passes over the sprocket 86 and also over the constantly rotating sprocket 80. The sprocket 86 is fixed on the shaft which also has the parts 88 and 90 fixed to it (see FIG. 3). The bar 88 carries the two pins 89, and these pins enter the slots 94 in the driven element 92 and rotate this driven element. One of the cylindrical surfaces 91 on the plate 90 engages a cylindrical surface formed in the driven element 92 and holds the driven element 92 from rotation as one of the pins 89 leaves one of the slots 94 and prior to the entrance of the next pin 89 into the next slot 94. The result of the co-action between the pins 89 and the slots 94 and the co-action between the surfaces 91 and 95 is an intermittent rotation of the driven element 92 through /4 revolution at a time. Due to the fact that the bar 88 carries two pins 89, the quarter revolution rotation of the driven element 92 occurs twice for each rotation of the bar 88 and shaft 85.

The sprocket 96 is fixed to the part 92. and shaft 93, and the sprocket 96 in having a resultant intermittent rotation gives the same intermittent movement to the sprockets 73, 72, 74 and 75 by means of the drive chain 97 extending around these sprockets. The rolls fixed with respect to the sprockets 72 and 73 and the rolls 38 and 40 fixed on similar sprockets on the hidden side of the sliver feed device C are intermittently driven, causing an intermittent movement of the belts 52 and 53 together with a similar movement of the sliver-s 20 to 25 disposed in double layers on each other.

The rolls fixed with respect to the sprockets 74 and 75 having the intermittently moving chain 97 passing around them, and the rolls 42 and 44 driven by sprockets corresponding to the sprockets 74 and 75, are given the same intermittent movement. The belts 54 and 55 thus also have this intermittent movement, which is the same as the movement of the belts 52 and 53. Therefore, the slivers 20 to 25 pass from the belts 52 and 53 to the belts 54 and 55 intermittently and with the same move ment as the belts.

The cutter disc 103 swings back and forth about the shaft 65 along with the arms 98 and 99 and the tubular member 100. This swinging movement is by virtue of the cam 109 acting on the cam follower 110 on the arm 111, the arm 111 transmitting motion to the arm 99 through the link 112. The cam 109 is driven from the shaft 65 through the reduction unit 69, and the cam 109 is so cut and is so disposed on the shaft 108 that the arms 98 and 99 and the cutter disc 103 move toward the plate 32 while the slivers 20 to 25 are stationary between their intermittent movements. The cutter disc 103 enters between the rolls 39 and 42 and the rolls 41 and 44 and cuts the continuous slivers 20 to 25 into segments, with the slivers retaining their original relative disposition of two layers each consisting of three slivers. The continuous slivers 20 to 25 have sufiicient rigidity and the distance from the rolls 39 and 41 to the rolls 42 and 44 is so short that, after cutting of the slivers 20 to 25, the forward ends of the slivers 20 to 25 enter between the rolls 42 and 44 and between the belts 54 and .55.

The sliver segments pass from between the belts 54 and 55 to the belts 56 and 57 which move at a constant speed and are propelled by the rolls 46 and 48. These rolls are driven by sprockets corresponding to sprockets 76 and 77 on the sliver feed device D which are continuously driven by the chain 84 passing around the sprockets and also around the continuously rotating drive sprocket 78. The belts 56 and 57 propel the sliver segments, still having the same disposition of two layers of three slivers each, into the tubular part 114 of the knitting head A.

The cones 124 and 125 carried by the arms 126 and 127 which, in turn are disposed on the rotatable part 120, are driven by means of the belt 121 passing over the pulleys 122 and 123; and a thread is drawn from each of the spools 124 and 125 through the thread guides 128, 129, 130 and 131. The tubular parts 113 and 114 are stationary, and the cams 118 and 119 carried by the rotatable part 120 cause the needles 116 to move axially inwardly and outwardly with respect to the tubular part 114. The latch 117 on each of the needles 116 is opened with respect to the hook 116a on the needle in the outwardly projected position of the needle, and a thread from one of the cones 124 and 125 is wound on to the needle in its outward projected position, the needles 116 functioning as a mandrel on which the threads are wound. On continued rotation of the cones 124 and 125, each needle retracts into its slot; and, on such retraction, the latch 117 is swung through approximately 180 toward the hook 116a of the needle to lock the newly positioned thread within the hook of the needle. This movement of the latch is by reason of its contacting the previously formed loop in the previous thread disposed on the particular needle. The latch 117 also acts as a bridge in its position overlying the hook 116a of the needle, so that needle may be drawn through the previously formed loop on the needle; and, as the hook and latch pass through the previously formed loop, the latter loop falls oif the needle and passes into the tubular part 114.

Each needle, on further rotation of the rotatable part 120, again moves axially outwardly; and the last thread positioned on the needle, which has been encompassed by the latch 117 fitting over the hook portion 116a, at this time moves the latch 117 backwardly along the length of the needle so as to open the hook 116a of the needle for reception of the next thread from one of the cones 124 and 125. This reciprocating action of each of the needles 116 in pulling a new thread from one of the cones 124 and 125 through a previously formed loop from the previous thread which is looped about the needle, then releasing the previously formed loop, and then returning for a new thread, provides the tubular knitted jacket 134.

The jacket 134 knitted in this manner passes through the tubular part 114 into the tubular part 113, and a constant tension is maintained on the jacket by the conveyor G, as well hereinafter be more fully described. This tension tends to pull each subsequent thread loop off of its needle and also provides the force for swinging the latch 117 of each needle between its two terminal positions, overlying the hook 116a of the needle in one position and in the other position lying along the body portion of the needle spaced apart 180 from its hook overlying position. The sliver segments pass also through the tubular parts 114 and 113, being fed therein by the belts 56 and 57, and they travel along with and lie within the knitted jacket, so as to form the continuous length of jacket and enclosed sliver segments.

The jacket 134, with the segments of sliver enclosed within the jacket, passes from the tubular part 113 to the conveyor G. The portions of the jacket 134 located between the sliver segments are disposed in the grooves 139 of the conveyor portions 138, so that the continuous sausage of sliver segments and jacket extends down the conveyor G as shown in FIG. 2. The chains 135 and 136 are driven from the sprockets 141 which in turn are driven from the sprocket 152. The chain 159 drivingly connects the sprocket 152 with the output sprocket 151 of the reduction unit 150 for this purpose. The driving connection between the reduction unit 150 and the chains 135 and 136 is such that the chains have a slightly greater velocity than do the belts 56 and 57, so the sliver segments are separated and the knitted jacket 134 is drawn to a considerably smaller diameter between the sliver segments than when the jacket is knitted on the hooks 116, this increased spacing of the sliver segments with reduction in diameter of the jacket being illustrated also in FIG. 2. The conveyor G thus maintains a continuous pull on the continuous jacket 134 and thus pulls each subsequent loop of thread on each needle 116 011 the needle in forming the continuous jacket 134.

The slivers 26 to 31 are fed and are cut into segments by the sliver feed device D in the same manner as the slivers 20 to 25 are fed and cut by the sliver feed device C as has just been described; and the knitting head B is effective in the same manner as is the head A for forming the continuous length of sliver segments and jacket 134 from the slivers 26 to 31. The continuous length of sliver segments and jacket from the knitting head B travels over the pulleys 171 and 172 and on to the conveyor G. The portions of the jacket 134 produced by the knitting head B fit within the slots of the plate portions 138, and the continuous lengths of sliver segments and knitted jackets from the heads A and B travel side by side down the conveyor G, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

Adhesive is applied to the portions of the jackets 134 between the sliver segments, as at a place 202 illustrated in FIG. 12, due to the action of the adhesive applying mechanism H. It will be noted that the place 202 is located closer to one set of sliver segments than to another, this being for the purpose of providing jacket ends that are larger on one end of the pledget than on the other. The elongated elements 173 and 174 (see FIGS. 2, 6 and 7) and driven respectively from the sprockets 158 and 157 in mesh with the chain 159, and the anvils 179 and 180 bear against the pairs of the felt inserts 177 and 178 so that portions of the jackets between the individual sliver segments for the continuous lengths of segments and jackets are passed into contact with the felt inserts. The felt inserts are provided with liquid adhesive flowing from the reservoirs 183 and 184 through the pipes 186 and 187 and ducts 181 and 182, and the places 202 between the sliver segments are thus glued so as to prevent unraveling of the jackets 134 after severance by the cutter device I. p

The cutter device I functions to cut the jackets 134 at the places 202 by reason of the knives 194 and 195 contacting the anvils 192 and 193, the elongated elements 188 and carrying the knives and anvils being driven from the sprockets 196 and 197. The chain 201 passes over these sprockets for driving them, being itself driven from the sprocket 198 that is fixed on the shaft 144, and the shaft 144 being driven from the sprockets 142 supporting the chains 135 and 136. The continuous lengths of sliver segments "and jackets are thus cut into the individual pledgets 'by the cutter device I; and the individual pledgets are then removed from the conveyor G by any suitable means, as by simply allowing them to drop out of the slots 139 and 140 as the chains pass around the sprockets 142. The adhesive used in the adhesive applying device H is a liquid which dries by the time the spots of adhesive reach the cutter device I; and, if desired or necessary, any conventional adhesive drying method or mechanism, such as a hot air hood (not shown), may be utilized for accelerating the drying of the adhesive.

The pledgets produced by the illustrated machine advantageously each comprises a multiplicity of absorbent sliver segments of cotton, for example, longitudinally aligned in bundles in close association with each other and extending longitudinally of the pledget to form a soft absorbent pad. The pad is enclosed in a knit sleeve or jacket of thread which has a relatively long end and a relatively short end for handling purposes and which retains the sliver segments in proper close relationship. The slivers are so manufactured that the fibers in them extend generally longitudinally of the slivers and sliver segments so that fluid tends to migrate and flow longitudinally toward the ends of the segments whereby the complete length of pledget may be utilized for fluid absorption, and the longitudinally extending voids in the pledget between the individual sliver segments also promotes this longitudinal fluid migration. Although the pledgets may be made in many different sizes, it has been found that a pledget of 3% inches approximate length, 1% inches approximate width and inch approximate thickness, being formed of two layers of slivers with three slivers in each layer, fits well to the body when used as intended as an auxiliary catamenial pledget worn in contact with the body outside of the vaginal orifice or in the vulva between the labia and supported, for example, by a conventional sanitary napkin, particularly for the former use.

The rapidly rotating disc cutter 103 is cutting the slivers into segments produces cut ends that are quite soft compared to the ends that may be produced by other cutting methods and apparatus, such as those producing a scissors type of cut, for example. The soft cut ends may be expected to result in greater comfort to the wearer.

I wish it to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific constructions, arrangements, devices and methods shown and described, except only insofar as the claims may be so limited, as it will be understood to those skilled in the art that changes may be made without departing from the principles of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine for making fluid absorbent pledgets, the combination of conveying mechanism for drawing a plurality of slivers made from fluid absorbent closely associated fibers from a source of supply of such slivers with the. slivers extending longitudinally of each other and in close relationship to form a bundle, said conveying mechanism comprising oppositely disposed rollers between which the slivers are passed and two pairs of other rollers between which the slivers are subsequently passed, means for constantly rotating said first named rollers, means for intermittently rotating said two pairs of other rollers, a swingably mounted cutter disc movable between said roller pairs, means for drivingly rotating said disc, means for swinging the disc in timed relationship wit-h movement of said two pairs of intermittently driven rollers so as to sever he slivers into segments when the slivers are stationary with the intermittent rotation of said roller pairs, knitting mechanism for knitting a jacket of thread about said sliver segments as they continue their movement, said conveying mechanism including also a conveyor at the terminal end of the machine, means for driving said end conveyor at a greater speed than said constantly rotating rollers for applying tension onto the thread jacket and elongating it to space the sliver segments in the jacket, and a cutter for cutting the jacket between said segments so as to produce the individual pledgets.

2. In a machine for making fluid absorbent pledgets, the combination of a conveying mechanism for drawing sliver made from fluid absorbent closely associated fibers from a source of supply of such sliver, said conveying mechanism comprising two pairs of oppositely disposed rollers between which the sliver is passed, means for rotating said two pairs of rollers in timed relationship with each other, a swing ly mounted cutter disc movable between said roller pairs, means for driving said disc, means for swinging the disc between said pairs of rollers so as to sever the sliver into segments, knitting mechanism for knitting a jacket of thread about said sliver segments as they continue their movement after being cut, said conveying mechanism including also a conveyor at the terminal end of the machine for receiving the sliver segments as wrapped by the jacket of thread, and a cutter for cutting the jacket between said segments so as to produce the individual pledgets.

3. In a machine for making fluid absorbent pledgets, the combination of conveying mechanism for drawing sliver made from fluid absorbent closely associated fibers from a source of supply and including three pairs of oppositely disposed rollers betwen which the sliver is passed and drawn by the rollers, means for intermittently driving two consecutive pairs of said rollers, means for constantly rotating the other pair of said rollers, a swingably mounted cutter disc movable between said intermittently driven roller pairs, means for drivingly rotating said disc, means for swinging the disc in timed relationship with movement of said two pairs of intermittently driven rollers so as to sever the sliver into segments when the sliver and said intermittently driven rollers are stationary, knitting mechanism for knitting a jacket of thread about said sliver segments as they continue their movement, said conveying mechanism also including a conveyor for drawing the sliver segments surrounded by the jacket of thread from said knitting mechanism, means for driving said last named conveyor at a greater speed than said constantly rotating rollers for applying tension onto said thread jacket and elongating it to space the sliver segments in the jacket, and a cutter for cutting the jacket between said segments so as to produce the individual pledgets.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 21,938 11/1941 Bauer 19-145 775,849 11/ 1904 McConnell 19-145 1,038,493 9/1912 Marcus 19-145 1,408,586 3/1922 Green 66-9 1,825,492 9/1931 Wandel 19-145 1,869,177 7/1932 Thompson 19-145 1,946,298 2/1934 Thomas 19--145 2,039,425 5/1936 Jurgensen 19-145 2,688,163 9/1954 Burger et al 19-144.5

FOREIGN PATENTS 23,103 1914 Great Britain. 394,933 7/1933 Great Britain. 410,702 5/ 1934 Great Britain. 1,023,722 3/ 1966 Great Britain.

603,196 3/ 1960 Italy.

ROBERT R. MACKEY, Primary Examiner. 

2. IN A MACHINE FOR MAKING FLUID ABSORBENT PLEDGETS, THE COMBINATION OF A CONVEYING MECHANISM FOR DRAWING SLIVER MADE FROM FLUID ABSORBENT CLOSELY ASSOCIATED FIBERS FROM A SOURCE OF SUPPLY OF SUCH SLIVER, SAID CONVEYING MECHANISM COMPRISING TWO PAIRS OF OPPOSITELY DISPOSED ROLLERS BETWEEN WHICH THE SILVER IS PASSED, MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID TWO PAIRS OF ROLLERS IN TIMED RELATIONSHIP WITH EACH OTHER, A SWINGABLY MOUNTED CUTTER DISC MOVABLE BETWEEN SAID ROLLER PAIRS, MEANS FOR DRIVING SAID DISC, MEANS FOR SWINGING THE DISC BETWEEN SAID PAIRS OF ROLLERS SO AS TO SEVER THE SLIVER INTO SEGMENTS, KNITTING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING A JACKET OF THREAD ABOUT SAID SLIVER SEGMENTS AS 